System and method with automatic radius crossing notification for gps tracker

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods with automatic radius cross notification for a GPS tracker are provided. Some methods can include receiving user input requesting a dynamic creation of a geo-fence, and, responsive thereto, creating the geo-fence. Some methods can include determining when a GPS tracker device has been stationary for a predetermined period of time, and responsive thereto, dynamically creating a geo-fence.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to GPS tracking systems. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a system and method withautomatic radius cross notification for a GPS tracker device.

BACKGROUND

Known Global Positioning System (“GPS”) tracking systems can provide auser with the ability to pre-configure a radius around a location forwhich events can occur and/or notification messages can be transmittedwhen an object crosses the radius. For example, some known GPS trackingsystems refer to a pre-configured radius as a geo-fence. In thesesystems, when an object, such as a tracking device or an object beingtracked by a tracking device, crosses the radius in either direction, anotification message, such as an email, an SMS message, an applicationevent, or the like, can be transmitted to a user.

In known systems, a geo-fence can be pre-configured by a user around adefined location, such as the user's home or place of business. Then, anotification message can be transmitted to the user when an object, suchas the user's vehicle, exits the geo-fence.

However, known systems permit a limited number of geo-fences and requirethat the geo-fences be pre-configured. That is, known systems limit thenumber of locations around which a radius of a geo-fence can beconfigured and require that those locations and radii be pre-configured.This can be problematic because such systems do not assist a user whowants to track an object around a location that is not necessarilypredetermined or frequently visited, for example, a shopping mall, asales call location, and the like. Without a pre-configured geo-fence,the user's object remains unprotected when at those locations.

In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improvedsystems and methods with automatic radius cross notification for a GPStracker device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method of receiving manual user input todynamically create a geo-fence;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method of automatically determining whento dynamically create a geo-fence and of creating the geo-fence;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a dynamically created geo-fence inaccordance with disclosed embodiments; and

FIG. 4 is block diagram of system for executing the methods of FIG. 1,FIG. 2, and others in accordance with disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of an embodiment in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein indetail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention. It is not intended to limit the inventionto the specific illustrated embodiments.

Embodiments disclosed herein include improved systems and methods withautomatic radius cross notification for a GPS tracker device. Forexample, in some embodiments, a geo-fence can be dynamically created.That is, some embodiments disclosed herein can allow and/or facilitatethe dynamic creation of a radius around a specific location.

According to some embodiments, systems and methods can receive manualuser input via an application user interface, such as mobile applicationor a website. The user input can request that a geo-fence be createdwith a predetermined radius around a current location of a GPS trackerdevice. Accordingly, a notification can be generated and transmittedwhen the GPS tracker device and/or an object associated with the GPStracker device, such as the user's vehicle, crosses the newly createdgeo-fence.

According to some embodiments, systems and methods can receive manualuser input via a user input device, for example, a physical button,connected to or associated with, either physically or wirelessly, forexample, via Bluetooth® or other local wireless technology, the GPStracker device. Activating or depressing the user input device, forexample, the button, can request that the GPS tracker device create ageo-fence with a predetermined radius around a current location of theGPS tracker device. Accordingly, a notification can be generated andtransmitted when the GPS tracker device and/or an object associated withthe GPS tracker device, such as the user's vehicle, crosses the newlycreated geo-fence.

In embodiments in which systems and methods can receive manual userinput to request the creation of a geo-fence, a user can stop or parkhis vehicle associated with a GPS tracker device at a location, forexample, in the parking lot of a shopping mall. Then, the user canprovide manual user input by logging in to a website or mobileapplication via the user's mobile device to gain access to the user'saccount and provide user input via the interface of the website ormobile application. Additionally or alternatively, the user can providemanual user input by activating or depressing a user input device, suchas a physical button, connected to or associated with the GPS trackerdevice.

Regardless of the embodiment, the manual user input can provide anindication to systems and methods disclosed herein that a geo-fenceshould be dynamically created. Then, relevant data can be transmitted tothe GPS tracker device to create the geo-fence and/or a server-side ofsystems and methods disclosed herein can process the relevant data tocreate the geo-fence.

According to some embodiments, systems and methods can automaticallydetermine when the GPS tracker device has been stationary for apredetermined period of time. Then, when systems and methods determinethat the GPS tracker has been stationary for the predetermined period oftime, systems and methods can create a geo-fence with a predeterminedradius around a current location of the GPS tracker device. Accordingly,a notification can be generated and transmitted when the GPS trackerdevice and/or an object associated with the GPS tracker device, such asa user's vehicle, crosses the newly created geo-fence.

In some embodiments, the ability or feature of systems and methods toautomatically determine when the GPS tracker device has been stationaryfor a predetermined period of time, and, responsive thereto, to create ageo-fence, can be enabled or selected by a user. For example, in someembodiments, the user can enable or select this ability or feature atsome time before systems and methods begin determining when the GPStracker device has been stationary for the predetermined period of time.In some embodiments, when the user enables or selects this ability orfeature, systems and methods can transmit relevant data to the GPStracker device to enable the feature and/or process relevant data at aserver-side of systems and methods disclosed herein to enable thefeature.

In embodiments in which systems and methods can create a geo-fence basedon an automatic determination of the GPS tracker device being stationaryfor a predetermined period of time, a user can stop or park his vehiclecontaining a GPS tracker device at a location, for example, in theparking lot of a shopping mall. Then, the user can exit his vehiclewithout taking any additional steps, and, after the predetermined periodof time, systems and methods disclosed herein, for example, the GPStracker device and/or a server-side of systems and methods disclosedherein, can automatically create a geo-fence.

After a geo-fence is created in accordance with systems and methodsdisclosed herein, systems and methods can determine when the GPS trackerdevice or an object associated with the GPS tracker device, for example,a vehicle, crosses the geo-fence. That is, systems and methods disclosedherein can determine when the vehicle associated with the GPS trackerdevice exits the area defined by the predetermined radius around thelocation of the GPS tracker device when the geo-fence was created. Whensystems and method determine that the GPS tracker devices crosses thegeo-fence, systems and methods disclosed herein can generate andtransmit a notification message to the user informing him of themovement.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method 100 of receiving manual user inputto dynamically create a geo-fence. As seen in FIG. 1, the method 100 caninclude placing a GPS tracker device in a location that has not beenpreviously designated as a location with a pre-configured geo-fence asin 110. For example, the method 100 can include a user parking hisvehicle, which is associated with the GPS tracker device, in the parkinglot of a shopping mall.

Then, the method 100 can include receiving manual user input requestingthe dynamic creation of a geo-fence as in 120. For example, the manualuser input can include user input received by a website or a mobileapplication, for example, via the user's mobile device. The manual userinput can also include user input received via a user input device, forexample, a physical button, connected to or associated with, eitherphysically or wirelessly, the GPS tracker device.

After the method 100 receives the manual user input requesting thedynamic creation of a geo-fence as in 120, the method 100 can includecreating the geo-fence as in 130. For example, an exemplary geo-fence isshown in FIG. 3. The GPS tracker device 300 can be located at PositionA, and the geo-fence 310 can be created at a predetermined radius Raround Position A. In some embodiments, the manual user input receivedas in 120 can identify the distance of the radius R.

Once the geo-fence is created as in 130, the method 100 can includedetermining whether the GPS tracker device 300 has crossed the geo-fence310 as in 140. If the method 100 determines that the GPS tracker device300 has not crossed the geo-fence 310 as in 140, then the method 100 cancontinue determining whether the GPS tracker device 300 has crossed thegeo-fence 310 as in 140 until the geo-fence 310 is no longer active.

However, if the method 100 determines that the GPS tracker device 300has crossed the geo-fence 310 as in 140, then the method 100 can includegenerating and transmitting a notification message to a user as in 150.For example, the method 100 can determine that the GPS tracker device300 has crossed the geo-fence 310 as in 140 when the GPS tracker device300 is located in Position B or any other location outside of thegeo-fence 310 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method 200 of automatically determiningwhen to dynamically create a geo-fence and of creating the geo-fence. Asseen in FIG. 2, the method 200 can include placing a GPS tracker devicein a location that has not been previously designated as a location witha pre-configured geo-fence as in 210. For example, the method 200 caninclude a user parking his vehicle, which is associated with the GPStracker device, in the parking lot of a shopping mall.

Then, the method 200 can include determining whether the GPS trackerdevice is stationary as in 220 and if so, determining whether apredetermined period of time has elapsed as in 230. When thepredetermined period of time has elapsed while the GPS tracker device isstationary, the method 200 can include creating the geo-fence as in 240.

For example, an exemplary geo-fence is shown in FIG. 3. The GPS trackerdevice 300 can be located at Position A, and the geo-fence 310 can becreated at a predetermined radius R around Position A. In someembodiments, a user can provide input to identify the distance of theradius R. For example, in some embodiments, the user can provide inputto identify the distance of the radius R when providing input to enablethe automatic determination of when to dynamically create a geo-fence.

Once the geo-fence is created as in 240, the method 200 can includedetermining whether the GPS tracker device 300 has crossed the geo-fence310 as in 250. If the method 200 determines that the GPS tracker device300 has not crossed the geo-fence 310 as in 250, then the method 200 cancontinue determining whether the GPS tracker device 300 has crossed thegeo-fence 310 as in 250 until the geo-fence 310 is no longer active.

However, if the method 200 determines that the GPS tracker device 300has crossed the geo-fence 310 as in 250, then the method 200 cangenerate and transmit a notification message to the user as in 260. Forexample, the method 200 can determine that the GPS tracker device 300has crossed the geo-fence 310 as in 250 when the GPS tracker device 300is located in Position B or any other location outside of the geo-fence310 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is block diagram of system 400 for executing the methods of FIG.1, FIG. 2, and others in accordance with disclosed embodiments. As seenin FIG. 4, the system 400 can include a GPS tracker device 410 inwireless communication with a remote computer or server 430.

For example, the GPS tracker device 410 can include a transceiver 412, auser interface device 414, control circuitry 416, one or moreprogrammable processors 418, and executable control software 420 storedon a transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium, includingbut not limited to, computer memory, RAM, optical storage media,magnetic storage media, flash memory, and the like. Similarly, theremote computer or server 430 can include a transceiver 432, a userinterface device 434, control circuitry 436, one or more programmableprocessors 438, and executable control software 440 stored on atransitory or non-transitory computer readable medium, including but notlimited to, computer memory, RAM, optical storage media, magneticstorage media, flash memory, and the like.

In some embodiments, the executable control software 420 associated withthe GPS tracker device 410 and/or the executable control software 440associated with the remote computer or server 430 can implement some orall of the steps of methods 100 and 200 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,respectively, as all as others disclosed herein.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, othermodifications are possible. For example, the logic flows described abovedo not require the particular order described, or sequential order, toachieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may beeliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be addedto, or removed from, the described systems. Other embodiments may bewithin the scope of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation withrespect to the specific system or method described herein is intended orshould be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover all suchmodifications as fall within the sprit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving user inputrequesting a dynamic creation of a geo-fence; and responsive to thereceived user input, creating the geo-fence.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein receiving user input requesting the dynamic creation of thegeo-fence includes receiving the user input via an application userinterface or receiving the user input via a user input device.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising identifying a current location of aGPS tracker device.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein creating thegeo-fence includes identifying a boundary defined by a predeterminedradius from the current location of the GPS tracker device.
 5. Themethod of claim 4 wherein receiving user input requesting the dynamiccreation of the geo-fence includes receiving user input identifying adistance of the predetermined radius.
 6. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising determining when a GPS tracker device crosses the geo-fence.7. The method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting a notificationmessage when the GPS tracker device crosses the geo-fence.
 8. A methodcomprising: determining when a GPS tracker device has been stationaryfor a predetermined period of time; and responsive to determining whenthe GPS tracker device has been stationary for the predetermined periodof time, dynamically creating a geo-fence.
 9. The method of claim 8further comprising enabling a capability to determine when a GPS trackerdevice has been stationary for a predetermined period of time andresponsive thereto, to dynamically create the geo-fence.
 10. The methodof claim 8 further comprising identifying a current location of the GPStracker device.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein dynamically creatingthe geo-fence includes identifying a boundary defined by a predeterminedradius from the current location of the GPS tracker device.
 12. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising receiving user input identifying adistance of the predetermined radius.
 13. The method of claim 8 furthercomprising determining when the GPS tracker device crosses thegeo-fence.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting anotification message when the GPS tracker device crosses the geo-fence.15. A system comprising: a GPS tracker device; and a remote server inwireless communication with the GPS tracker device, wherein, responsiveto a predetermined condition, at least one of the GPS tracker device andthe remote server dynamically creates a geo-fence around the GPS trackerdevice.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the predetermined conditionincludes at least one of the GPS tracker device or the remote serverreceiving user input requesting dynamic creation of the geo-fence aroundthe GPS tracker device.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the remoteserver receiving user input requesting dynamic creation of the geo-fencearound the GPS tracker device includes the remote server receiving theuser input via an application user interface.
 18. The system of claim 15wherein the predetermined condition includes a predetermined period oftime elapsing during which the GPS tracker device is stationary.
 19. Thesystem of claim 15 wherein the at least one of the GPS tracker deviceand the remote server dynamically creating the geo-fence around the GPStracker device incudes the at least one of the GPS tracker device andthe remote server identifying a boundary defined by a predeterminedradius from a current location of the GPS tracker device.
 20. The systemof claim 15 further comprising at least one of the GPS tracking deviceand the remote server transmitting a notification message when the GPStracker device crosses the geo-fence.